I’m incredibly grateful that there are ten or so indie bookstores within a five-mile radius of my home. But the one closest to me, Papercuts Bookshop in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, holds a special place in my heart–not only because of its thoughtfully curated collection of books and wonderful staff, but also because the store is a testament to resilience.

Shortly after Papercuts moved to a more spacious location in January 2020, Covid hit, bringing the store to the brink of folding. Then, in April 2022, two cars crashed into the front of the shop, another significant setback that, thankfully, caused no injuries. Despite these difficulties, Papercuts has survived and thrived, and I was honored to write a profile of it for Regal House Publishing, which will be releasing my latest novel, The Inhabitants, in the fall of 2024.

Thank you, Papercuts, for being such a valuable member of the community. And thanks to all of you who support your local indie bookstores.